American Heart Month.....Tips to Stay Heart Healthy

The number one cause of death in America is cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and strokes. Over 700,000 people die of heart disease in the United States yearly, so this is not an issue to take lightly. That's why February is American Heart Month....a time to go over a mental checklist of ways to stay heart healthy.

As firefighters, it's important to take great concern with this, since heart disease continues to be the leading cause in firefighter deaths.

We want to take a few minutes to go over some ways to keep your health at the forefront of your mind. Your job, saving lives, is important! But in order to do that safely and effectively, you must also be healthy.

Here are some tips from healthy-firefighter.org:

Aim for a healthy weight. It is important for a long, vigorous life. Excess weight and obesity cause many preventable deaths.

Get moving. Make a commitment to be more physically active. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.

Eat for heart-health. Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. Be sure to include whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.

Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), and blood glucose. Work with your doctor to improve any numbers that are not normal.

If you smoke, try to quit. People who smoke are up to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smokers.

If you want an easy way to check your blood pressure from home, we sell an affordable wrist monitor here.

Try replacing high-sugar drinks with water! Check out all our water bottles and hydration options for convenient easy ways to keep hydrated on-the-go.

Use February to self-check. Are you heart healthy? Are you doing everything you can to be the best firefighter you can be? We want nothing more than to see you continuing to serve in this great industry, while keeping your own a health a priority.

If you want a great way to kickstart your healthy lifestyle, we'd love to refer you to our friends over at The First Twenty who offer an awesome wellness plan, check it out.

*information & stats from healthy-firefighter.org